Immigration & Global Mobility

The Express Entry system manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs. Candidates create profiles and are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on age, education, language proficiency (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF), work experience, and adaptability factors. Draws are conducted regularly with minimum CRS cut-offs. Provincial nominations add 600 CRS points. Our team optimizes profiles, identifies PNP alignment, manages ITA timelines, and handles complex cases including Canadian experience leverage and spousal point maximization.

Each Canadian province operates its own immigration streams targeting specific labour market needs. Key programs include Ontario's Human Capital Priorities, BCPNP Tech, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, and Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker. Categories include employer-driven, human capital, entrepreneur, and semi-skilled streams. We advise on strategic province selection, employer-driven LMIA-linked PNP, and Express Entry-aligned PNP streams that add 600 CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply.

Canada's Start-up Visa provides permanent residency for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas supported by a designated organization — venture capital fund (minimum $200K investment), angel investor group ($75K), or business incubator. Applicants must meet CLB 5 language requirements and demonstrate sufficient settlement funds. We assist with business plan development, securing designated organization support letters, pitch preparation, and navigating the peer review process.

Most work permits require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), proving no Canadian worker is available. LMIA-exempt categories include intra-company transfers (ICT), CUSMA professionals, Global Talent Stream (2-week processing for tech roles), significant benefit, and international agreements. We handle LMIA applications for employers, open work permits for spouses, post-graduation work permits (PGWP), and bridging open work permits pending PR.

Permanent residency can be obtained through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship, Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Agri-Food Pilot, Home Child Care/Home Support Worker pilots, and humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds. PR holders must maintain physical presence of 730 days in every 5-year period. We advise on optimal pathway selection, address residency obligation issues, and handle PR card renewals and travel document applications.

Canadian citizenship requires 3 years (1,095 days) of physical presence as a PR within a 5-year period, adequate knowledge of Canada and citizenship responsibilities, language proficiency (CLB 4+ for ages 18-54), filing taxes for 3 years, and passing the citizenship test. We assist with residence calculations, test preparation, oath ceremony scheduling, dual citizenship advisory, and defence against citizenship revocation proceedings.

Canadian citizens and PRs can sponsor spouses/common-law/conjugal partners (inland and outland processing), dependent children, parents and grandparents (PGP lottery or Super Visa — up to 5 years). We handle complex cases including relationships of convenience assessments, conditional PR removal, appeal of refusals before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD), and adopted children applications under the Hague Convention.

Foreign nationals may be found inadmissible to Canada on grounds of criminality (including DUI/impaired driving), security, health, financial reasons, or misrepresentation. Remedies include Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) for urgent travel, Criminal Rehabilitation applications (5+ years after sentence completion), Record Suspension, and appeals before the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) or judicial review at the Federal Court. We handle complex inadmissibility cases and develop rehabilitation strategies.

The Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor at RQF Level 3+ skill level and minimum salary threshold (generally £38,700 or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher). Shortage Occupation List roles qualify for reduced thresholds. Applicants must score 70+ points across mandatory and tradeable criteria. The visa leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years. We handle CoS assignment, English language evidence, financial requirements, dependant applications, and in-country switching from Student, Graduate, and other visa categories.

The Global Talent visa does not require a job offer or sponsor. Applicants need endorsement from a designated competent body — Tech Nation (digital technology), Arts Council England (arts and culture), Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering (science and engineering), or British Academy (humanities and social sciences). Two routes: Exceptional Talent (leaders) and Exceptional Promise (emerging leaders). Fast-track to ILR in 3 years (Talent) or 5 years (Promise). We prepare endorsement applications, compile evidence portfolios, and handle Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications.

For experienced entrepreneurs establishing an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. Requires endorsement from a Home Office approved endorsing body confirming the business plan meets innovation, viability, and scalability criteria. No minimum investment (was £50K previously). Contact points at 6, 12, and 24 months. Settlement (ILR) possible after 3 years. We assist with business plan preparation, endorsement body selection and applications, and milestone evidence.

ILR grants permanent residence in the UK. Requirements vary by route: 5 years continuous residence (Skilled Worker), 3 years (Global Talent), or 10 years long residence. All applicants must pass the Life in the UK test, meet English language requirements (B1 CEFR), demonstrate continuous residence without excessive absences (generally no single absence >180 days), and show no unspent criminal convictions. We handle complex continuous residence calculations, absence explanations, and SET(O)/SET(LR) applications.

UK employers must hold a valid sponsor licence to employ foreign workers. We assist with initial licence applications, assign Key Personnel (Authorising Officer, Key Contact, Level 1 User), manage CoS allocation and assignment, ensure compliance with Appendix D reporting duties (changes of role, salary, absence), prepare for Home Office compliance visits, and handle licence suspensions, downgrading, and revocation challenges. We also advise on right to work checks and civil penalty defence.

Family route applications under Appendix FM for spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (2+ years cohabitation), fiancé(e)s, children, and adult dependent relatives. Financial requirement of £29,000 (rising threshold). 5-year route (meeting all requirements) or 10-year route (exceptional circumstances). We also handle Article 8 ECHR applications on private and family life grounds outside the Immigration Rules, human rights appeals before the First-tier Tribunal, and deportation challenges based on family rights.

The UAE Golden Visa provides 5 or 10-year renewable residency without requiring a national sponsor. Categories include investors (AED 2M+ in property or business), entrepreneurs with approved innovative projects, specialized talents and researchers, outstanding students with 3.8+ GPA, and humanitarian pioneers. Benefits include 100% business ownership on mainland, ability to sponsor unlimited family members, 6-month grace period after visa expiry, and ability to stay outside the UAE without losing visa status. We handle eligibility assessment, documentation, ICA portal applications, and Emirates ID processing.

The Green Visa is a 5-year self-sponsored residency for skilled professionals (minimum Bachelor's degree, current job in UAE at AED 15,000+ salary), freelancers or self-employed individuals (permit from MOHRE, annual income of AED 360,000+), and investors establishing a new commercial venture. No employer sponsorship required, 6-month grace period after visa cancellation, and ability to sponsor first-degree relatives. We assist with classification, documentation, and transition from employer-sponsored to Green Visa status.

Employment in the UAE requires a valid work permit and residency visa. Mainland employment involves MOHRE approval, offer letter attestation, entry permit, medical fitness testing, Emirates ID, and labour card issuance. Free zone employment (DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC, ADGM, etc.) follows the respective authority's procedures. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment law frameworks. We handle the complete employment visa process, including labour ban disputes, contract disputes, end-of-service gratuity calculations, and MOHRE complaint resolution.

Business setup in the UAE is available through mainland LLC (Department of Economic Development), free zone company formation (100+ free zones), or offshore company registration. Each structure carries its own visa allocation — typically 2-6 investor/partner visas per mainland licence and variable allocation in free zones based on office space. We advise on optimal structure selection, handle trade licence applications, manage visa quota, and process investor, partner, and manager visa applications including family sponsorship.

The UAE offers multiple freelance pathways through approved free zones — Dubai Media City, twofour54, Dubai Internet City, and Dubai World Trade Centre (Gofreelance). The virtual working programme (1-year renewable) allows remote workers employed by foreign companies to live in the UAE. Requirements vary by authority but generally include proof of income (AED 5,000+/month), health insurance, and clean criminal record. We handle permit applications, visa processing, and transition between freelance and employment sponsorship.

India offers multiple visa categories for foreign nationals. The employment visa requires a minimum annual salary of USD 25,000 (exemptions for NGOs, ethnic cooks, language teachers), sponsorship by an Indian employer, and FRRO/FHRO registration within 14 days of arrival. Business visas (B-1/B-2) allow attending meetings, conferences, and establishing business contacts but not formal employment. E-business visas provide faster processing for short-term visits. Project visas are available for foreign technicians executing infrastructure projects. We handle all visa categories, FRRO extensions, visa conversions, and long-term visa (LTV) applications.

OCI cards provide a lifelong multiple-entry, multi-purpose visa for foreign nationals of Indian origin (up to 4th generation) and spouses of Indian citizens/OCI holders. OCI holders enjoy parity with NRIs in economic, financial, and educational matters but cannot vote, hold constitutional office, or purchase agricultural land. We handle new OCI applications, PIO-to-OCI conversion, OCI card reissuance after new passport, miscellaneous services endorsement (for children under 20), and address complex cases involving renunciation history, Pakistani/Bangladeshi origin restrictions, and inter-country adoption.

Foreign nationals in India may face deportation for visa violations, overstay, engagement in activities beyond visa scope, adverse security reports, or being declared a foreigner. The Foreigners Act, 1946 places the burden of proving citizenship/legal status on the individual. We provide defence before Foreigners Tribunals (particularly relevant in Assam NRC context), challenge deportation orders through writ petitions before High Courts, seek regularization of overstay, file habeas corpus petitions for detained foreign nationals, and handle exit permits and blacklist removal applications.

GIFT City International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) offers a simplified regulatory framework for foreign professionals. IFSCA-regulated entities benefit from single-window clearance for work visas, streamlined FRRO registration, and relaxed minimum salary requirements compared to standard employment visas. We advise IFSC banking units, fund managers, insurance intermediaries, and FinTech companies on optimal visa structuring for foreign employees, cross-border employment contracts, and compliance with both IFSCA regulations and immigration requirements.

Indian citizenship is acquired by birth (born in India before 1987 — unconditional; 1987-2004 — one parent citizen; after 2004 — both parents citizens or one citizen and other not illegal), by descent (born abroad to Indian citizen parent, registered within 1 year), by registration (OCI holders after 5 years residence), or by naturalisation (12 years residence). India does not permit dual citizenship — acquiring foreign citizenship automatically terminates Indian citizenship. We handle citizenship verification, registration applications, renunciation certificates, and complex cases involving disputed nationality.